Network device

Abstract

One example discloses a network destination device: wherein the network destination device is configured to receive a handover message from a network source device; wherein the network source device is identified by a first network address; wherein the network destination device is identified by a second network address; wherein the handover message is configured to initiate a transfer of a user device from the network source device to the network destination device; wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using both the first network address and the second network address.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A network destination device, comprising:
 wherein the network destination device is configured to receive a handover message from a network source device;   wherein the network source device is identified by a first network address;   wherein the network destination device is identified by a second network address;   wherein the handover message is configured to initiate a transfer of a user device from the network source device to the network destination device; and   wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using both the first network address and the second network address.   
     
     
         2 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using the first network address after receiving the handover message.   
     
     
         3 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the handover message triggers a handover procedure between the network source device and the network destination device.   
     
     
         4 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using the first network address during the handover procedure.   
     
     
         5 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using the first network address after the handover procedure is completed.   
     
     
         6 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the network destination device is configured to communicate with the user device using only the first network address once the handover procedure is completed.   
     
     
         7 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the user device communicates with the network destination device using the first network address after the handover procedure is completed.   
     
     
         8 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the handover procedure is configured to keep the user device connected to the network destination device using the first network address during and for a predetermined time after the handover procedure is completed.   
     
     
         9 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein during the handover procedure, the network source device is configured to:
 request that the user device put the first network address connection into a low power mode; and 
 stop scheduling/transmitting subsequent communication packets to the user device. 
   
     
     
         10 . The network destination device of  claim 9 :
 wherein during the handover procedure, the network destination device is configured to:
 start arranging connection anchor point timing for scheduling to be applied to future communications with the user device; 
 send a handover ready message indication to the network source device; and 
 command the user device to exit the lower power mode to resume communication. 
   
     
     
         11 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network source device includes a first data base; and   wherein the network destination device includes a second data base.   
     
     
         12 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network destination device manages a connection with the user device and the first and second network addresses together in two separate data bases.   
     
     
         13 . The network destination device of  claim 12 :
 wherein one of the two separate data bases is assigned to the first network address and another one of the two separate data bases is assigned to the second network address.   
     
     
         14 . The network destination device of  claim 12 :
 wherein each of the two separate data bases include a separate set of connection parameters, bonding tables and piconet clock timings for each of the first and second network addresses.   
     
     
         15 . The network destination device of  claim 12 :
 wherein the two separate data bases are two separate piconet data bases.   
     
     
         16 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network source device and the network destination device are configured for wireless communication with the user device.   
     
     
         17 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network addresses are MAC addresses.   
     
     
         18 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network addresses are BD (Bluetooth device) addresses.   
     
     
         19 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein both the network source device and the network destination device are configured to communicate with the user device over a Bluetooth connection.   
     
     
         20 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the handover message is a Bluetooth handover message.   
     
     
         21 . The network destination device of  claim 3 :
 wherein the handover procedure is a Bluetooth handover procedure.   
     
     
         22 . The network destination device of  claim 1 :
 wherein the network destination device is configured not to communicate with the user device before receiving the handover message.   
     
     
         23 . Method of enabling a network destination device to be operated, comprising:
 distributing a set of instructions, stored on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable storage medium, for configuring the network destination device;   wherein the instructions include:
 configuring the network destination device to receive a handover message from a network source device; 
 wherein the network source device is identified by a first network address; 
 wherein the network destination device is identified by a second network address; 
 initiating a transfer of a user device from the network source device to the network destination device in response to the handover message; 
 configuring the network destination device to communicate with the user device using the first network address.